Apparatus for making brushes



April 17, 1951 MCDONALD D. SMITH APPARATUS FOR MAKING BRUSHES 7 Sheets-Sheet l iled April ll, 1946 April 17, 1951 MCDONALD D. SMITH APPARATUS FOR MAKING BRUSHES Filed April 11, 1946 '7 Sheets-Sheet 2 bmw, QNXNQN April 17, 1951 MCDONALD D. SMITH 2,549,536

APPARATUS FOR MAKING BRUSHES '7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed April 11, `194:5

MCDONALD D. SMITH APPARATUS FOR MAKING BRUSHES April 17, 1951 V '7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Fled April ll, 1946 #ffl mi@ M y TW Q? Z 3 H April 17, 1951 MCDONALD D. SMITH APPARATUS FOR MAKING BRUSHES '7' Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Abril ll, 1945v April 17, 1951 MCDoNALD D. SMITH APPARATUS RoR MAKING BRUSHES ned April 11, 19M

`7 Sheets-Sheet 6 Patented Apr. 17, 1951 UNITEDl 513411215 PATENT OFFICE 2,549,536 APPARATUS FOR MAKING BRUSHES McDonald D. smith, Washington, D. c. Application April 11, 1946, serial No. 661,304

sfclaims. (c1. soo-2) The invention Yrelates to an apparatus for the manufacture of brushes. A principal object of the invention is to provide for the rapid production of brushes enabling them to be sold at a very low price so that in the case of toothbrushes, for example, the brush may be discarded after a single use, as it should be. A principal feature enabling the rapid manufacture is the continuous extrusion of a plastic holder, which holder, in the case of toothbrushes, or the likejis severed in lengths to provide handle portions, bristle groups being applied at the proper intervals. A further object of the invention is the rapid production of brushes with a plurality of side-by-side lines of tufts. In the case of toothbrushes another object is to provide a. packaged brush having dentifrice applied to the tuft ends. Y

The invention is shown in illustrative embodiment in the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a plan view of a machine in accord- Figure 6 is a section substantially on line 6 6 A of Figure 4.

Figure 7 is a section substantially on line 1 1 of Figure 4..

Figure 8 is a section substantially on line 8 8 of Figure 7.

Figure 9 is a section substantially on line 9 9 of Figure 7.

Figure 9a is an elevation of the apparatus of Figure 7 as seen from the left of that figure.

Figure 1t) is a section substantially on line Ill-I of Figure 1.

Figure 11 is a section substantially on line Il ll of Figure 10.

Figure 12 is a plan view of a clipping wheel which appears in Figure 10.

Figure 13 is a trans-axial section of thewheel of Figure 12.

Figure14 is a section substantially on line l4 4 of Figure 1. Y y

Figure 15 is a section substantially on line |4 I4 of Figure 1 but extendingv the full width of the machine.

Figure 16 is a section substantially on line l6-l6-of Figure 14.

Figure 17 is a vertical section of a guide member which appears in Figures 3 and 4. A

Figure 18 is an elevation partly broken away of a further guide member which appears in Figure 2.

Figure 19 is a section substantially on line lll-I9 of Figure 18.

Figure 20 is a section substantially on line 20 20 of Figure 4.

Figure 21 is an isometric view of a brush produced by the apparatus of the preceding Figures.

Figure 22 is a section on line 22-22 of Figure 21.

Figure 23 is a partial section like that of Figure 4 showing an alternative structure.

Figure 24 is a section of cement applying means usable in place of certain means shown in Figures 1 and 2. Y y

Figure 25 is a section like that of Figure 7 showling a modification.

Figure 26 is an isometric View of a brush in process of manufacture.

Figure 27 is an isometric view showing a succeeding step.

Figure 28 is a longitudinal section of the completed brush, and

Figure 29 is a section like that of Figure 26 showing a modification.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, reference numeral 30 designates generally an elongated plate or table top which is spread at its left-hand end te provide wings 3| and 32 of which the latter is broken away in Figure 1. The left-hand end of the plate is supported on two vertically adjustable legs of which one appears at 33 in Figure 2, the lower extremity of the leg being equipped with a caster 34 whose axis extends transversely of the table. The leg 33 is secured to the plate through a flanged fitting 35 and a similar leg and tting are associated in symmetrical relation with the wing 32. The right-hand end of the plate is supported on a single caster 36 journaled in a leg 31 extending downwardly from the center of a U-shaped member whose armsare secured in anged fittings 38 and 39.

The plate thus is universally adjustable at its lefty hand end with respect to an extruder 40 whose head vis shown at 4|, and is movable toward and away from the latter and lockable in adjusted position. Y A

At its forward or left-hand end plate 30,' is`centrally slotted at 42 for the accommodation of a pair of similar pulleys of which one appears lat 43 in Figure 2the pulleys being mounted on a shaft 44 journaled in brackets securedV beneath 3 the plate at the sides of the slot. At its foot or right-hand end the plate has a central slot 45 accommodating a pair of similar pulleys of which one appears at 48, Figure 2, these pulleys being fixed on a shaft 4l journaled in brackets secured beneath the plate, the shaft having fixed thereon between the pulleys a sprocket 48. ASecured beneath the plate is an electric motor 48 to the armature shaft of which is xed a worm 50 engaging a worm wheel 5| iixed on a shaft 52 journaled beneath the plate, see also Figure 15. Fixed on shaft 52 is a sprocket 53 which through a chain 54 drives sprocket 48 and hence the pulleys which are xed on shaft 4l. The latter pulleys drive endless conveyor belts 55 and 5S whose other ends are engaged by the pulleys as 'at 43, the upper runs of the belts, Figure 2, travelling to the right above the plate. At suitable intervals the upper runs are supported by rollers 5l' mounted in brackets secured to the topof the plate. u

The top runs of belts 55 and 55 are positioned in receiving relation to channel strips 58 and 59 extruded from head 4|, these channels being of W-section and upright as shown in Figures l0, 14 and 21. The speed of the belts is ordinarily substantially equal to the speed of extrusion. However, depending on the requirements of the plastic, etc., the speed of the belts may be greater or less or equal to the speed of the extrusion. The extruded channels are carried rectilinearly along the table 'on the belt tops.

By providing the two belts in association with two extrusion orifices of the same head, production is doubled. However, the invention is exemplified in the provision of a single belt and orifice and the vdetails of the apparatus will be described with reference to the upper half of Figure l, it being understood that the lower half is substantially a duplicate.

With the channel 58 being fed as above described it next becomes necessary under the invention to insert therein, at the required intervals, series of bristle tufts. In accordance with preferred practice these tufts, instead of being pre-cut to length, are severed from strands, each comprising a pre-determined number of filaments wound on a reel or reels.

In Figure 2 a pairl of parallel horizontal bars as at 68 is supported by uprights as at 6| rising from the table top. The bars are notched on top to receive shafts 62 and 53 which support reels 64 and 65. The reel 64 in this instance has wound thereon six strands,'each strand being composed of a desired number of filaments, for example thirty, one of these strands being shown at `t6 in Figures 2, 3, 4, 7 and 8. Reel |55 is similarly wound and the strands are shown at 61 in the same figures. The unwinding sides of the reels are adjacent and the strands are led downwardly through vertical openings in guides 68, 69, 'I and I, the guides extending horizontally from a vertical angle l2 Ywhich is secured to one side of a vertical channel i3 iixed on top of plate 3B. In the present instance the angle 1 2 is secured to channel I3 through bolts 74 and l5, indicated in Figures 3 and 4, so that the angle, together with the guides,v is readily demountable and replaceable.

The guide 53 is a block having two parallel rows of vertical bores countersunk at the top as indicated in Figure 4, the bores being of a diameter to conne the strands and give thereto, or maintain, a substantially cylindrical form without substantial binding. Y -f The guide 69 is shown in Figures 18 and 19 and comprises a laterally open box 'l5 receiving a block 7l of rubber, or the like, provided with vertical bores countersunk at the top and substantially aligned with the bores of the block 58. In Figures 18 and 19 reference numeral 'I8 designates a plate secured to the box 16 through bolts 'I9 and 8|), and by adjusting the bolts and thereby compressing the block a desired friction may be applied to the formed strands passing through the block openings. l

The guide 'I6 may be like guide 68 in all respects. The guide l, as particularly shown in Figure l',l comprises a horizontal block portion 8| downwardly ofset from a bracket portion 82, the block portion being provided with countersunk bores substantially aligned with the bores of the guides thereabove.

' In practice the post 'i2 and the guides are preferably removed and the strands threaded through the guides so that the assembly is quickly mountable in replacement yof duplicate guide structure upon the exhaustion of the reels associated therewith. With the apparatus ready for operation, the lower extremities of the strands 65 and 67 project to a certain extent below the guide 1| as shown in Figure 4.

Reference numerals 83 and 84 designate upper and lower rails defining a track extending from just below and to the far side, Figure 1, of the guide 'H in angular relation toward the conveyor belt 55, the rails being horizontally bent at 85 and then extending in parallel relation alongside the belt. Similar parallel rails 86 and 81 define a track extending directly below the track dened by the upper rails 83 and 84. The rails are supported by means `of arms as at 88, 89, and 90, Figure 6, apertured to receive the upper threaded ends of posts, as at 9|, extending upwardly from the table. The arms at 88 Vsupport the strip 83 and are clamped between nuts threaded on the posts. The arms as at 89's'upport the strips 84 and 86 and are engaged between nuts threaded on theposts. The similarly clamped arms, as at 96, support the lower rail 81.

In Figure 6 reference numeral 92 designates a U-shaped transfer member supported on vertical rods 93 and 94 with its arms 95 and 96 in parallel horizontal relation and spaced apart the same distance as the rails of the tracks. Rods 93 and 94 are slidable in a block 91 xed on the table top and extend downwardly through the table Vtop and have stop nuts threaded on their lower ends. Compression springs 98 and 99 surround the rods and are interposed between the transfer member and block 91 and normally yieldingly hold the transfer member in the dotted line position shown in Figure 6, wherein the arms 95 and 96 are aligned with rails 83 and 84, this disposition being determined by the stop nuts. The transfer member extends alongside the downwardly projecting ends of strands 56 in parallel spaced relation thereto on the side thereof opposite strands 81.

Reference numeral |00 designates a slide comprising parallel horizontal elongated Astrips |0| and |82 disposed in vertical planes and connected at intervals by means of ,U-shaped members |03, |04, maand |06, Figure 3, vthe strips s traddling the block portion of guide 1| as shown in Figure I7. At their *left-hand"'ends7 Figure 4, strips |0| and |62 are relatively'deep andare guided in channels [DI and |08 xed back-'to-back against channels vH19 and ||0 secured to the table top through posts and ||2,v the latter channels being vertically adjustablevon the posts through positioning nuts as particularly shown in Figure 4. The deep portions of the strips incline at I3 andl |4, Figure 4, into narrow portions which, asshown in Figure 17, straddle the block portion 8| of guide 1| with slight clearance. v v

These narrow portions are guided in channels similar to the channels |01 and |08 supported for vertical adjustment on posts as at ||5 rising from the table top. By means to be hereinafter described the slide |00 is displaceable to the right from the position of vFigure 4 with the result that the transfer member 92, through the action of inclines ||3 and H4, islowered from the dotted line position, Figure 6, to the full line position wherein its arms 95 and 96 are in alignment with rails 85 and 81 respectively. I

At the foot ends o f the 7tracks a transfer member I6, similar to the member 92, is supported on f vertically slidable rods ||1 and H8. normally urged downwardly by compression springs ||9 and |20 beneath plate 30. Normally stop pins |2| and |22 set in rods ||1 and ||8 engage the top of a block |23, similar to block 91, so that the transfer member isl in the dotted line position of Figure 16 wherein its arms are in alignment with rails 86 and 81 respectively. By means to be hereinafter described, the transfer member ||6 is liftable to the full line position of Figure 16 wherein its arms are in alignment with the upper rails 83 and 84.

Reference numeral |24 generally designates a carrier or traveler slidable along the tracks and transferable by the transfer mem-bers 92 and ||6 from the top track to the bottom track at the head end of the machine and from the bottom track to the top track at the foot end of the machine. rThe carrier comprises a block |25 which as particularly shown in Figure 9 has top and bottom grooves |26 and |21 shown in Figure 4, full line position, as having engaged therein the rails 83 and 84. The block is provided with a horizontal transverse aperture 28 bounded Aby parallel end walls |29 and |30, Figure 7.

Threaded in a horizontal transverse bore of block |25 and locked by apin |3| is a stud |32 to which is rigidlyvnxed a 4plate or tongue |33 extending parallel to the side ofthe block in spaced relation thereto. Disposed between the plate and the block Vand extending lengthwise thereofgis a jaw |34slidable on studl32. The jaw has six generally semi-circular vertically extending grooves |35 faced toward plate |33, the landsbetween the groovesl being provided with transversely extending ribs |36 and |31 adapted to be received in grooves .|38 and |39 Ain'the plate. Slidable on stud |32'k on the opposite side of plate |33 is a jaw Vmember, |40 provided with grooves |4| opposed to grooves |35, the lands between the grooves having transverse ribs receivable in grooves of plate |33 opposite grooves |38 and |39. A stud |42 threaded in jaw |40 extends with close sliding clearance through apertures in plate |33 and jaw |34 and prevents swinging of the jaws about stud |32. The fighthand end of stud |42, Figure '7, bears against one endof an equal-armed lever |43 pivoted in recess |28 on a vertical pin |44, the other end of the lever bearing against the side of jaw |34. Compression springs |45 and |46 surrounds stud |32 and are interposed between plate |33 and the bottoms of vrecesses in jaws |34 and |40, respectively.

Straps |41 and |48 are set Vflushly in grooves extending parallel to andren opposite sides of stud |32 in the jaws and plate |33, the straps being xed to jaw |34 and extending outwardly beyond jaw |40 to support a pivot pin |49 on which is pivoted a dog |50 which includes a nose |5| and rectangularly related arms |52 and |53 of which the latter 'projects oppositely from the nose |5|. The dog bears against an outwardly bowed leaf spring |54 secured to the outer side of jaw |40. In the normal relation of parts shown in Figure 'l ther springs |45 and |46 urge jaw |34 against block |25'and jaw |40 against dog |50 so that the jaws are substantially equally spaced from plate |33. If the dog is swung counter-clockwise, Figure '1, jaw |40 will be forced toward and against plate |33, and through stud |42 and lever |43, jaw |34 will be similarly forced toward and against the opposite side of plate |33. The nose of the dog is flattened Aso that when it is swung counter-clockwise 90 from the position ofFigure 1, it will retain that position and hence, theclamped relation of the jaws, this relation being resiliently assumed and maintained through spring |54. Arm |53 now occupies the Vposition previously occupied by arm As previously stated, the carrier |24 is slidable along the top and bottom tracks and into and out of the transfer members. The width of the rectilinear portions of the tracks is only slightly less than the width of the grooves |26 and |21 so that the carrier is guided on the rectilinear portions of thetracks without wobble. At the bend in the two tracks the rails are narrowed somewhat to prevent binding. Referring to Figure 2, both tracks dip downwardly at |55 and then follow depressed rectilinear horizontal paths at |56 to a rise |51 which returns them to their original level. The track rails are thinned vertically at the bends to prevent binding. The means for propelling the carrier |24, of which there are several, will now be described.

Shaft 52 has xed thereon a bevel gear |58 which engages bevel gears |59 and |60 of which the former is fixed on a sleeve |6| journaled in a vertical bearing |62 extending above and below the plate 30, positioning collars |63 and |64 being fixed to the sleeve above and below the bearing. Fixed on the sleeve in a plane midway between the rails 86 and 81 of the lower track is a sprocket |65 which .engages a chain |66 having a run extending in substantially parallel relation and adjacent to the track and engaged at its other end by a sprocket |61, Figure 4, freely rotating on a shaft |68 journaled in a bearing |69 which extends upwardly from plate 30 at the head end of the tracks. The chain is guided in a. general way along theftrack bend 85 by idler sprockets |10 and |1| journaled on studs projecting upwardly from the plate, while the outer run of the chain is guided by a grooved wheel |12 also mounted on an upwardly projecting stud. At intervals, chain |66 has outwardly proiecting fingers |13 secured thereto, the ngers having leading .edges perpendicular to the line of the chain. The inner run of the chain travels to the right, Figure 1.

e Gear |60 is xed on a shaft |14 journaled in sleeve i6! and having xed to its upper end a sprocket |15 vopposite the upper track and spaced from sprocket |65 by a spacer |16. Sprocket |15 engages a chain |11 similarly guided to and extending directly above chain |66 and engaging a sprocket |18 fixed to shaft |68. Fixed on chain 11 and projecting outwardly thereof are fingers `|110 whose leading edges are perpendicular to the line of the chain, the chain travelling oppositely to chain |66. In Figure l the intermediate portions of the runs of chain |11 are broken away to reveal the lower chain.

Fixed on the upper end of shaft |68, Figures 1 and 4, is an arm |88 to the outer end of which is pivoted one end of a link |8| Whose other end is pivoted to a stud |82 on slide |00. Fixed to shaft |68 beneath arm |80 is a cam |83 which cooperates with a follower |82 carried by a lever |85 pivoted on a vertical bolt |85 mounted in a horizontal portion of a bracket |81 which rises from the base plate. The lever is continued beyond its pivot point and has secured to its continued portion a downwardly projecting pin |88 for cooperation with the arm |52 of dog |50 for the purpose of swinging the dog to its jaw-closing position.

Fixed to the underside of the transfer member ||6 is a bracket |89 which projects downwardly and carries at its lower extremity a follower |90 cooperative with a cam |9| which is carried by the collai |63, Figure 14. Cam |9| has a rise |92 and an upper dwell |93.

To explain the operation of the apparatus thus far described, each finger |19 on the inner run of the top chain |11 is in driving engagement with the wall |29 of the recess |28 of a carrier |24 so that a series of carriers is being propelled to the left along the top track, Figures 1 and 2. The carriers are successively driven into the transfer member 92, the latter being in its upper position shown in dotted lines, Figure 6. The jaws of the carrier are open and the exposed ends of the filament strands or groups below guide 1| are freely received between the jaws and plate 33 in lateral register with the grooves |35 and |4|. This is assumed to be the starting -position of the carrier. A spring detent |94 secured in a groove in the underside of rail 83 prevents any rebound of the carrier from the transfer member. At this point the propelling finger |19 passes away from wall |29, as shown in Figure 3. An abrupt rise |83 of cam |83 now acts on the follower Y|84 to swing lever |85 counter-clockwise, Figure 3, so that pin |88 engages arm |52 of dog |50 and the latter is swung to close the jaws on the downwardly projecting ends of strands 55 and 51 so that the latter are engaged in the jaw grooves and are clamped against plate |33 with their cylindrical form substantially maintained. Detent |94 holds the carrier against movement Vby pin |88 as it swings the dog. After the jaws are thus locked follower |84 comes opposite a descending curve |83 of cam |83 against which it is forced by a spring |81' on bracket |81.

During this clamping operation slide |09 was being driven to the right, Figure 3, through crank |80 and link |8| and, clamping having been completed, the inclines ||3 and H4 of plates |0| and |02 engage the adjacent topedge of carrier |24 and the latter, together with the transfer member 92, is cammed downwardly to the full Vline position of Figure 6, or dotted line position of Figure 4, wherein the carrier `is borne lightly against thetop of the upright channel 13 and rests lightly against an upwardly projecting tongue 13' of the channel. vFixed to'the bottom of the cross member |04 of slide |00, Figures 3 and 4, is a horizontal knife |95 having a biased cutting edge |98 at the lower end of the inclines ||3 and H4. `As the carrier |24 comes into its lower position the knifel95 is slid'across the top of the Acarrierto sever the 'strands 66 Vand 61,

and form tufts 66t and 61t, Figures 10, 14, 20 and 21, the forward thrust of the knife being taken by the tongue 13' and the carrier being sustained by the top of channel 13 for a clean shearing action of the knife along the iiat top of the carrier. Y

While the carrier is being held in its lower position by the lower edges of strips and |02, a finger |13 of the bottom chain |66 enters the recess |28 of the carrier and engages Wall |30 thereof so that the carrier is moved from the transfer member between rails 86 and 81 of the lower track so vas to be substantially engaged therebetween before being released by the slide |00 in its return to the position of Figures 3 and 4. As soon as the carrier block is completely between rails 86 and 81 the transfer member 92 is returned to its upper position Aby springs 98 and 99. The far fiange of channel 13 is provided with a top cutout 13" which provides clearance for the downwardly projecting tuft endsas the carrier is moved from the transfer member into the lower track.

It will be evident that as the carrier was moved by the slide from its upper to its lower position, it pulled strands 66 and A|51 downwardly through the several guides in position to be seized in the same manner Vby the next carrier with a predetermined length projecting below the latter. Overfeed or backlash is prevented by the friction guide member .69 and also by friction screws as at |91, Figure 2, bearing against the reel flanges, if desired. After thetransfer member reaches its upper position the next carrier, with its jaws open, is inserted therein.

In order that the filaments of each severed tuft held by the carrier may be securely united, various means may be provided. Assuming that fusible filaments of a suitable plastic are being used, their downwardly projecting ends or butts may be carried Yalong the flame of, for example, a gas burner |98 fed from a pipe |99 through a valve 290. Or, referring to Figure 23, the lower projecting ends, or butts, may be fused together by high frequency current applied through electrodes 20| and 202 extending a suitable distance along the path of travel of the tuft extremities. Otherwise, there may be substituted for the heating means a pad 203, "Figure 24, mounted at the top of a receptacle 204 on a perforated plate 205 and wicking a suitable cement 206, the lower extremities of the tufts lightly wiping the top of the pad, as indicated. Flame heating is utilizable where the plastic bristle material is not quick burning, for example, in the case of nylon.

The tuft extremities are thus solidly united so that the'individual bristles cannot pull out in use.

Reference numeral 261 designates an applicator fed from a tank 208, Figures 1 and 2, and adapted to supply a cement to the lower extremities and preferably, also the lower outer margins of the tuft groups being transported by the carrier.

When the carrier has passed the bend the parallel groups of tufts being transported thereby are directly above the channels of the extruded strip v58 which is moving with the belt 55 at the same speed as the carrier. VPrevious to this juncture a suitable cement may be fed into the channel strip by means of a supply nozzle 209 fed from a tank 2|0 supported rabove the table as particularly shown in Figure 2.

As the carrier comes into the track decline |55 the bottom ends ofthe tuft rows are lowered into y.the channels ofthe plastic strip and th'isrelation .tially in contact so as to slightly lift the assembly .asv particularly shown in Figure with the top anges 2|5 and.2|6 also substantially in contact so as to engage over the upper outer edges of the channel while a somewhat compressive action is exerted on the latter by the core portions of the wheels in order toY bring the side portions of the channel into rm contact with the embraced ends of the tufts. The cutter wheels2|| and 212 are identical in form and the zwheel 2|| is shown in Figures 12 and 13. Its top 4ilange 2|5 has 4a cut-away portion 2|1 whose peripheral length is the same as the length of the tuftrows and at the trailing end of the cut-out the wheel has a radially projecting blade 2| 8, the blade havingan axially extending knife edgeA from which it enlarges convexly to its root. The wheel 2|2 has a similar cut-away portion and knife edge whichl register with those of wheel 2|| and upon'each rotation ofthe wheels the strip is clipped immediately behind a tuft group to produce a brush with a handle 58h as shown in Figu'r'es21 and 22. At this time the strip is in moldable condition and the curved sides of the blades act tosmoothly fold 'or mold-'the sides of the channels inwardly to the centralrib so. as to produce ar rounded end as indicated at'thelet of-Figure'2l. y l Y Wheels 21| and 2|2 are fixed on shafts 219 and 229 journaled invertical-bearings 22| and 222 on the base plate and the shafts have xed thereto equal gears 223v and 224. of which the former is engaged by aV gear 225 fixed on a Vshaft 226 vmounted. in a bracket'v221 fixed to the base plate. The upper end of shaft 226 has xed thereon a sprocket 228 which, as shown in Figure 1, engages the runs of the top chain |11. The diameter of the cutter wheels and their driving ratio is such as to sever the tufted strip immediately behind each tuft group.

Beyond the cutter wheels a post 229 extends upwardly from the base plate in position to engage the arm |53 of the locking dog |50 so that the latter is swung clockwise, permitting the springs |45 and |45 to release jaws |34 and |4. Thereafter the carrier comes into the track rise at |51 and is lifted away from the tufts. Prior to this the leading end of the brush handle entered between horizontal parallel guide strips 230 and 23| having in-turned upper anges engaging over the channel sides so that the brush is held down against any tendency to lift with the rising carrier.

'I'he carrier thus released from the tufts moves into the elevator I6 which is in the lower position shown in dotted lines in Figure 16 and is retained by a spring detent 232 which moves into a groove in the bottom of rail 86 to pass the carrier. Hereupon the rise |92of cam |9| engages the follower |90 so that the transfer member is elevated to the full line position of Figure 16 and is maintained in this position by the dwell |93 until the c-arrier has been picked up by a nger |19 of chain |11 and moved into the top track. The transfer member is then lowered into receiving relation to the lower track by springs ||9 and |20.

While still guided by the rails 23|) and 23| the tuft tips may have applied thereto a dentice which may be a paste contained in a reservoir'233 and extruded through a nozzle 234, Figure 2. The brushes then pass off the foot end of thebelt 55 into a chute 235 which directs therri into la package, or packaging apparatus, 235. The pack.- ages should be hermetically sealed. f L

Any suitable plastic may be used for the han? dle material and suitable temperature controlling lmeans may be provided as needed along the path of travel. In this connection and in others, my co-pending application, Serial No. 636,313,.filed December 2l, 1945, now abandoned, may beconsidered in supplement to the present disclosure. For example, if the plastic tends to cool too much in advance of the clipping wheels I may provide a heating chamber in advance of the wheels s o as to condition the channel for easy clipping, The channel is clipped behind the heads sincelin this way a better closing effect is secured at the head extremity so that the sides of the channel are substantially merged to give a smoothnish.

Ordinarily the bristle filaments are wound flat on the reels and the separate strands are given a substantially cylindrical form in the vguides which thus serve also as mandrels. Obviously, instead of a single reel containing av sufficient number of filaments to provide the required number of multi-filament strands, individual reels each wound with a sufficient number of filaments for a single strand maybe-used. The length of the severed tufts depends on the'length neces-V sary to be insertedin the handle plus thefthickness of the carrier. Therefore, by usingcarriers of different thicknessesthe lengths of the applied tufts, and hence their stiffnessmay be varied.

The side of the machine served by belt 56 is the same as that served by the belt 55. The only difference, as here shown, is that the cutter wheels 231 and 238 Figure l, are in .advance of cutter wheels 2| and 21.2., being mounted'on shafts 239 and 24|), Figure'llfwhich have fixed thereto engaged equal gears 24| and 242 of which the former engages the equal gear 224.

Where small individual tufts are not required, in the case of paint brushes, for example, the lamentsare drawn from the reels in the form of wide strands 66 and 61', Figure 22, and the jaws |34 and |40 of carrier |24 are provided with elongated recesses |35' and |4l for the reception and clamping of the strands. The jaws are of such depth that sufiiciently'long bristle groups or tufts 66't and Blt, Figures 26, 27, and 28, are provided when the strands are clipped along the top of the carrier. The bristle groups or tufts have their lower ends, with the filament ends united as by fusing, set in the channels of a strip 225, Figure 26, in the same manner as previously described, the strip in this instance including a dove-tail rib portion 226. The clipping wheels are designed to clip the strip closely in front of `and behind the bristle groups to produce heads as at 221, Figure 2'1, and the waste VAportions of the strip between the bristle groups are salvaged as re-usable scrap. In Figure 28 a head 221 is shown as having its rib 22B engaged in a dove-tail groove in a handle 228 with the joint embraced by a band 229 and secured by rivets 23|).

In Figure 29 the ends of the bristle groups BBt and 61t are directly engaged and adhesively secured in channels in the head or holder portion 23| of a brush handle 2 32.

Glass filaments may be mentioned as usable in the case of paint Abrushes and the like;`

aseaeae Erocelures, apparatus, and products varied irorn those herein given as illustrative are contemplated as Within the scope of the invention as defined in the claims which follow.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for making brushes, comprising a pair of tracks extending lengthwise of each other, a carrier, means for propelling said carrier in opposite directions along said tracks respectively, transfer members for the carrier at the ends of the tracks respectively into which the propelling meansv are adapted to propel the carrier, means for timedly reciprocating the transfer members between the tracks, means for loading said carrier with a bristle toit While. it is in one of. said transfer members so that an end portion of the tuft projects from the carrier, said carrier beine` then withdrawn from said one of said transfer members. and propelled aloner one of the tracks by' the propelling means Whose action is away L irom. seid one of said. transfer members, means for supplying a holder to said end portion of the tnit while the carrier is thus propelled, and ineens for releasing the carrier from the tuft, the carrier then entering the other of said transfer members for transfer to the other track and propulsion back to said one of said transfer members.

2. Apparatus for making brushes, comprising a. pair of tracks extending lengthwise of each other, a carrier, means for propelling Said carrier in opposite directions along said tracks respectively, transfer members Yfor the, carrier at the ends of the `tracks respectively into which the propelling means are adapted to propel the carrier, means for timedly reciprocating the carrier between said tracks, said carrier having clamping iaws, guide means for presenting a, multifilament strand in position to be received between said jaws with a, portion projecting therebeyond as the carrier moves into one of said transfer members from one of said tracks, means for closing the jaws, said reciprocating means thereupon acting to inove said one oi said transfer members into alignment with the other oi said tracks whereby said strand is pulled a certain distance,v means for severing the. strand between .said snide means and carrier to provide a tuff: with a projecting end,A said carrier being then withdrawn from said One of said transfer members and propelled along the other of said tracks by the propelling means whose action is away from said one AO f Said transfer members, means for supplying a holder to the projecting end of the. tuft while the carrier is thus propelled, and means. for releasing said jaws, the carrier then entering the other of said transfer members for transfer to said one of said tracks.

3. Apparatus for making, brushes,l comprising means for extrnding a channel strip, a conveyor arranged to receive the extruded strip.l means for setting groups of bristle tufts in the channel at spaced apart intervals, and clipping means arranged on opposite sides of the path of travel of the tufted strip and `having opposed blades arranged to clip the strip immediately behind each tuft group and fold the channel side walls inwardly toward each other.

MCDONALD D. SMITH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

